Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-08
A Few Facts About the 4O-Mil-
iiOnaire.


Senator James Fl. Fair, of Ne yada. is
spending few days al the Gilsey House.
He is accompanied by his son, bright
looking young man, who bears a striking
resemblance to his father. The Senator
came over here to look after matters in
the money market, and will probably be
here a week or more. He usually comes
to New York about once in every three
months. He is not interested to any great
extent in mining at present, and has not
benefited by the recent mining excite
ment on the Pacific slope, as he saws him.
self, he never speculates in stocks. He
used to be interested both in the Com
stock aud the Consolidated Virginia. but
when he fell out with Mackav aud Flood
he sold out his interests. The principal
portion of his capital is invested in rail-
road running from Virginia City to San
Francisco, which has proved a very val
liable piece of property. 1t also has a
number Of branches running to various
points in California.
When the Senator was met in the corri-
dor of the hotel yesterday, he was in a
very genial mood and inclined to be talk.
alive. On recent trips to New York he
never registered, as he said he wanted to
keep out OF the way of the reporters: and
once. when a clerk sent reporters card
10 mis- room, he was so Indignant that he
changed his hotel.
AS a matter OF fact, Segator Fair Is less
open to ridicule than any other of those
Pacific Coast millionaires. as he had the
advantage OF an early education, and is A
man of some considerable reading. He
is native of Belfast, Ireland, and re-
ceived a fair education before leaving
that place, and when he came to this
country he settled in Chicago, and for
awhile taught school in Illinois. He was
also considered good civil engineer. and
1t was principally for this reason that he
got in with Mackay, Flood and O'Brien.
and had charge OF the technical depart
ment of the mines.
There are a great many good stories
told about his trip around the world
which he made few years ago with a
party of genial souls. lie had the inn
preston that he attracted q great deal
OF attention, and that in the various coun-
trles which he visited, all the inhabitants
had been looking forward for some time
20 bis coming. When he arrived in
Hgy he told his companions that no
would bet any reasonable amount that
80, Chliph knew him. His friends
Taught that such thing was absurd.
Tpat afternoon while driving through
the streets OF Cairo, be passed the man.
sion OF The Caliph, and that nabub hap
pened to be seated in the pOrtico in front.
II is always bis custom TO bow TO any
foreigners visiting the place, and when
he saw Senator Fair drive by, he natur-
nlly gave him a salute. "There, there"
said the Senator to his friends. II told
you that his royal nibs would know me;
] shall call on him today" and he did,
Although largely interested in the rail-
roads, senator Fair was a supporter of
the interstate commerce bill. Regarding
it be said; There is nothing in the bill
to furnish a reason for railroad men IN
opposing it, II is an honest bill and hon
sst railroad men cannot object to It's pro-
visions. can understand that a thief
would find its enactment u serious obsta-
Gle. II will pass the House by large
majority"
Nv nat do the people Of the Pacific
coast think OF President ClcvelandY'
81 think they like him very we'll. l
cannot say that they will be tor him in
'SS, but know that il had the say ne
would be renomlnated. / confess that
when he was nominated / was greatly
dissatisfied and for some time after he
became President did not like him, but
1 find that had wrong impression.
Heis good, sold, substantial character
who means 10 do right, and is making
an admirable President, He is just the
kind of man that should occupy that
position. lie Is no mans man."